European Amateur Championship

Gary Hurley is still very much in contention to become the first Irish winner of the European Amateur Championship for eight years after finishing day two on the Dukes Course at St Andrews in a four-way tie for the lead.

West Waterford’s Gary Hurley stormed into the lead in the European Amateur Championship on the Dukes Course at St Andrews yesterday following a stunning opening round.

Munster captured the Senior Interprovincial Championship for the second time in three years when they pulled off a magnificent 7-4 victory over hot favourites and holders Ulster in an epic decider at The Island links in North Dublin yesterday.

Shane Lowry might have become just the third amateur to win on the European Tour at Baltray in 2009, but he’s not piling his cash on a fairytale repeat from one of the quartet of amateurs at Carton House this week.

Carton House’s Shane Lowry warmed-up for this week’s Irish Open with a blistering final round 65 in the BMW International Open in Munich.

A third-round, seven-under-par 65 from Sweden’s Pontus Widegren may have pushed hopes of a home win in the European Amateur Championship beyond leading Irish men Kevin Phelan and Alan Dunbar.

Alan Dunbar bounced back from a poor opening round to equal the course record at Carton House’s Montgomerie layout and leap into contention at the European Amateur Championship.

Whatever about the long-awaited return to Royal Portrush for the 2012 Irish Open, Carton House director of golf Francis Howley is already gearing up for the 2013 tournament.

TIPPERARY’S Arthur Pierse came agonisingly close yesterday to claiming his second British Seniors Open title. The former Walker Cup player was pipped by a stroke at Royal Portrush as he attempted to add to his triumph of 2007.

PAUL CUTLER will hold many lasting memories from his tripto the Irish Open in Killarney.

ROLLO McCLURE remembers the first time he saw Rory McIlroy swing a club.

English amateur Gary Boyd upstaged a host of professionals as he surged into second place after the third round of stage two of the European Tour’s qualifying school.

IRISH Amateur Champion Rory McIlroy made an impressive European Challenge Tour debut at the Morson International Pro-Am in Manchester yesterday.

VERY few here at Troon have heard a great deal about Brian McElhinney but, in truth, he has arrived here with very worthy credentials.

BALLYLIFFIN’S Brendan McCarroll shot a round-of-the-day 71 to win the Nissan Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Hermitage by four strokes from Karl Gilbert (Malone).